World War One

A commemorative plaque to the men of the parish who gave their lives in the First World War can be found in the New Church of Kingston St. James. It starts:

IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919

The names inscribed are shown below, together with further information established about each serviceman killed where known:

Richard BYDDER

Richard St. George Bydder was a Master Mariner in the Mercantile Marine and died on 18 July 1920. He was the sister of Kingston school teacher Beatrice Allen nee Bydder.

Sidney COOK

No information located as yet.

Edwin COOPER

Possibly Edwin Herbert Cooper born at Kimmeridge.

George DAVIS

George Davis was a Corporal with the Royal Garrison Artillery 11th Seige Battery (service number 137061) who died on 1 November 1917. George is commemorated at Dozinghem Military Cemetery in Belgium (grave/memorial reference X11. D. 8.).

Harry FURMAGE

Henry James Furmage, known as ‘Harry’, was a Private with the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), 100 Company (service number 14992) who died of wounds on 21 August 1916 in the Battle of the Somme. Harry is also commemorated on the war memorial at Corfe Castle. He was buried at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’Abbe, Somme, France (grave/memorial reference III. F. 23.).

Robert GRANT

Robert Grant was a Corporal with the Royal Garrison Artillery, 285th Siege Battery (service number 334335) who died on 25 March 1918 aged 23. Robert is commemorated at Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France (grave/memorial reference VI. C. 25.). Robert was the son of Edward and Susan Grant, of Kingston, Corfe Castle, Dorset.

David HOOPER

David Hooper had served in the regular army with the Dorsetshire Regiment (service number 15705) and was discharged having completed both active and reserve service in 1910. He was called up in 1916 when the Military Service Act extended conscription to the ages of 18 – 40 years and then served as a Private with the Prince of Wales’s Leinster Regiment, 2nd Battalion (service number 5359). David was listed “Missing Presumed Dead” during the German offensive “Operation Michael” launched on 21 March 1918 in an attempt to regain areas of the Somme that they had lost earlier in the war. David died on 27 March 1918 aged 40. He is commemorated at Pozieres Cemetery, near Albert, Somme, France (memorial panel 78). David was the son of David Hooper and Emily Sarah Hooper nee White of West Street, Kingston, Corfe Castle, Dorset.

Charles LOVEL

No information located as yet.

James MEDD

James Medd was a Private with the Dorsetshire Regiment, 1st Battalion and also the Wiltshire Regiment, attd. 1st Battalion (service number 3/7850) who died 20 August 1916 in the Battle of the Somme. James is commemorated at Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authuile Wood, Somme, France (grave/memorial reference I. C. 3.).

Albert SPECK

Albert George Speck was a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery, 112th Siege Battery (service number 55793) who died on 21 March 1918 aged 20. Albert is commemorated at Beaumetz Cross Roads Cemetery, Beaumetz-les-Cambrai, Pas de Calais, France (grave/memorial reference B. 11.). Albert was the son of Walter and Mary Speck, of West Hill, Kingston, Corfe Castle, Dorset.

Harry STEVENS

Harry was a Private with the Dorsetshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion (service number 27367) who died on 16 July 1917 aged 34. Harry is commemorated at Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq (grave/memorial reference XV. C. 11.). Harry was the son of the late John and Mary Stevens, of Eastington Farm, Swanage and husband of Daisy Stevens, of Blashenwell Farm, Corfe Castle, Dorset.

Frederick STICKLAND

Frederick John Stickland was a Private with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, 6th Battalion (service number 29199) who died on 23 August 1917 aged 19. Frederick is commemorated at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave/memorial reference LXVI. H. 29.). Frederick was the son of Alice Mary Stickland, of Encombe, Kingston, Corfe Castle, Dorset, and the late Edward Stickland.

Henry TRAVERS

Henry Lawrance Travers was a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery, 278th Siege Battery (service number 334312) who died on 30 May 1918 aged 26. Henry is commemorated at Pernois British Cemetery, Halloy-les-Pernois, Somme, France (grave/memorial reference I. E. 13.). Henry was the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Travers, of South Street, Kingston, Corfe Castle and husband of Ellen O. Travers, of Ladnoll Cottage, near Dorchester.

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Kingston Cricket Ground, with pavillion, to the south of the village, on the site of the former Rope Factory

In his book ‘Odds and Ends from My Century’ (1992), Bob Dorey wrote:

Kingston had cricket teams. The Earl had his own team, including, of course, the Vicar, who had been a Cambridge Blue, and other local gentry; the Earl also took the four best of the village lads to play in his team.

 

There was also a village team. Twice during the summer they would play the Earl’s team, once “at home” for the Earl on his well kept pitch out on Steart Field (above “London Doors”) and once on the village pitch up in “Rope Walk” (a field at the top of South Street, … the site of a rope-making works in earlier times). Traditionally refreshments at half time were provided by the Earl, as was a roller to keep the pitches in good order.

 

As a young man, a little while after coming back from the war, I found myself Secretary trying to restart the Cricket Club. The Earl, and his Team, had gone; so had the roller.

Former Vicar, the Rev. F.S. Horan commented in his book ‘From the Crack of the Pistol’:

The Kingston Cricket Club was quite a going concern. A certain Ernest Hixson was Captain – a tricky left-hand bowler; and we had a redoubtable demon bowler in one of the Dorey family – Arthur. With a long run and a hop, skip and jump, he would deliver a ball calculated, on a rough village wicket, to strike terror into the most intrpid bastsman.

 

Ken Orchard (son of Charley Orchard and Mrs. Orchard the postmistress) was our champion heavy-weight slogger. He used to stride up to the wicket with his bat over his shoulder, a braod assured grin on his face – a Hercules, but for the leopard skin. Fielders fell back – he took his centre – and then with every ball bowled it was “six” or “out” with him. Ken certainly didn’t believe in slow cricket – he quickly brought any match to life. We had fixtures with most of the villages round and our Kingston boys generally gave a good account of themselves.

Match Reports

1922

KINGSTON v. CORFE CASTLE

Played at Kingston on Saturday, and won by Corfe Castle by 32 runs. Scores:- Corfe, 66 (Major Woodhouse 20, Dr. Drury, not out, 18); Kingston, 34 (Jeffs 12). Loxton bowled well for the home side, and Savage and Beath for Corfe.

Western Gazette, 25 August 1922

1925 – WAREHAM AND DISTRICT LEAGUE

KINGSTON v. CORFE CASTLE

Played at Kingston on Saturday, and resulted in an easy win for the home team by 79 runs. Batting first Corfe Castle made a bad start, and lost five wickets for 28 runs, the total reaching 84 (Colonel Strange 31). The home team made a good reply, the first wicket putting on 35 runs, and the Corfe total was passed with five wickets in hand, the total eventually reaching 163, the last wicket putting on 38 runs (G. Travers 41, Loxton 22, Hixson 20). For Kingston Hunt took four wickets for 18 and Hixson three for 18. The most successful bowler for Corfe was the Rev. F. Corfield, with five for 49.

Western Gazette, 24 July 1925

1931 – DIVISION I.

CORFE CASTLE DEFEATED BY KINGSTON

By 47 runs (33-80) Kingston beat Corfe Castle on the latter’s ground. G. Travers (3-8), C. Dorey (4-12), and E. Hixson (3-11) were responsible for Corfe’s dismissal, whilst the chief scorers for the winners were W. Stickland (21), K. Orchard (18), Travers (12), and F. Cooper (10). Five Corfe bowlers shared the wickets – Stockley (2-5), Fooks (3-23), D. Cooper (2-16), P. Crofts (2-20), and K. Greenstock (1-10).

Western Gazette, 3 July 1931

Page last updated: 20 February 2016

Henry George ‘George’ Travers (1866-1951)

‘George’ was born at Puddletown, Dorset in 1866. He was the son of Daniel Travers and Edith Travers neé Puckett, both of whom appear to have spent some time in Dorchester Gaol! In 1871 the family were living at Wareham St. Martin and in 1881 they were living at Downshay Farmhouse, Worth Matravers. In 1886 George was a labourer living at White House, South Middlebere.

On 15 December 1886 George married Bessie Maud Speck (1870-1954) at Corfe Castle. Bessie was the third child of Henry Frank Speck (1843-1920) and Martha Maria ‘Mary’ Speck neé Marshallsay (1845-1907).

George and Bessie had eleven children. In 1901, George and Bessie were living at Barn Cottage, Kingston. By 1911 they were living at South Street, Kingston. George died in 1951 and Bessie died three years later in 1954.

Children of George and Bessie:

1.   William Herbert Travers (1887-1968)

William married Hill Bottom resident Lily Jane Mitchell  (1888-1939) in 1909. They may have had three or four children. Lily died at Gillingham in 1939 and William died there in 1968 aged 81.

2.   Arthur Lionel Travers (1889-1954)

Arthur was a labourer and married his mother’s cousin Agnes Matilda Speck (1881-1953) at Kingston on 13 December 1911. Arthur and Agnes had four children:

Frederick Arthur Travers (1913-1994)

Edna May Travers (1916-1982)

Leonard A Travers (1920-2012)

Harold George Travers (1922-1988)

3.   Winifred Rose ‘Rose’ Travers (1891-1968)

Rose married railway constable Alfred Dorey (1889-1967) at Kingston on 26 December 1914. Alfred served in France from August 1915. Alfred and Rose lived in Paddington, London and had one son:

Frederick Charles Dorey (1915-2004)

4.   Henry Lawrence Travers (1893-1918)

Henry was a groom at the time of his marriage to Ellen Olive ‘Nellie’ Burden (1895-1968) at Winfrith on 27 July 1914. Henry and Nellie had two children:

Thomas Henry W Travers (1915-2004)

Margaret J Travers (1917-?)

During World War 1, Henry served as a Gunner (service number 334312) with the 278th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery and was killed in action at The Somme on 30 May 1918. Henry is commemorated on the memorial plaque in Kingston New Church and at the Halloy-les-Pernois Cemetery. Henry’s widow Nellie later married Charles Darch (1897-1978) at Portsmouth in 1922 and they had a number of children together.

5.   Albert Horace Travers (1895-1990)

Albert was born at Kingston on 17 September 1895 and started at Kingston School on 28 September 1898 aged 3. Albert signed up for service in World War 1 at Swanage on 17 November 1914 and, like his older brother Henry,  he served as a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery. Albert married Ethel Mary Hobbs (1897-1981) in 1931. Ethel died in 1981 and Albert died in 1990.

6.   Gordon Alan ‘Alan’ Travers (1897-1966)

Born at Kingston on 7 September 1897, ‘Alan’ was admitted to Kingston School aged 3 on 10 September 1900. Alan married Linda Annie Cleall (1898-1988) in 1918. Alan and Linda had four children:

Robert Cyril Travers (1915-1993)

Walter Gordon K Travers (1919-1987)

Ronald Lionel Travers (1921-2010)

Vernon George Travers (1926-1981)

Alan married  Millie Hammond (1905-1969) in 1932. Alan later lived at Oakbank Farm, Sway and died on 18 April 1966 at the Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton.

7.   Henrietta Maud ‘Maud’ Travers (1900-1974)

‘Maud’ was born at Kingston on 23 January 1900 and started at Kingston School on 23  January 1903 on her 3rd birthday. Maud married soldier Robert Ernest Bridges (1898-1926) at Hamworthy on 30 June 1917 and they had four children:

Gwendoline Bessie Maud Bridges (1917-1987) who married Encombe dairyman Randolph Francis Tuck (1913-1980) at Kingston on 3 May 1941

Gladys Bertha Maria Bridges (1919-1995)

Bernard Robert Henry Bridges (1922-1982)

Douglas Maurice Bridges (1926-1987)

Robert died in 1926 and Maud married Henry G Norris in 1931. Maud died in 1974.

8.   Edward George Travers (1901-1985)

Edward was born at Kingston on 22 October 1901 and started at Kingston School two days after his 3rd birthday. Edward married Elizabeth Mary Wills (1897-1988) in Somerset and they returned to Dorset where they had one daughter, and a son who sadly died shortly after birth.

Edward and Elizabeth later moved to Rutland where Edward died in 1985 and Elizabeth in 1988.

9.  Dorothy Annie ‘Anne’ Travers (1903-1959)

Born at Kingston on 26 September 1903, ‘Anne’ started at Kingston School on her 3rd birthday. Anne married William Stockley in 1926. William and Anne may have had six children. Anne died at Bournemouth in 1959.

10. Gerald Blaise Travers (1906-1977)

Gerald was born at Kingston on 7 August 1906 and he started at Kingston School on 6 September 1909. Gerald married Evelyn Hilda James (1909-1976) at Kingston on 26 November 1932. Evelyn was later a member of the Kingston Women’s Institute. Evelyn died in 1976 and Gerald died the following year at Swanage Hospital.

11. Phyllis Mary Travers (1908-1987)

Phyllis was born at Kingston and married Jack Young (1904-1973) at Kingston on 20 October 1928. Phyllis and Jack may have had five children. Jack died in 1973 and Phyllis died in 1987.

If you have any further information, memories, photographs etc. about the Travers family then please get in touch with us.

Page last updated: 3 January 2016